Quick release clamp for ski rope

ABSTRACT

A clamp which includes a mounting bracket having a stationary jaw thereon positioned for clamping cooperation with a movable jaw pivotally supported on the mounting bracket. The movable jaw is also pivotally connected to one end of an actuating lever. A cam link has one end pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and a second end connected to the actuating lever at a point between its ends. The several points of pivotal connection and the length of the cam link are such that the point of pivotal connection of the cam link to the actuating lever passes through a line between the point of pivotal connection of the lever to the movable jaw and the point of pivotal connection of the link to the bracket at such time as the movable jaw is moved from an open to a closed position by movement of the actuating lever. The bracket is adapted for securement to the transom or gunwale of a boat so that a towrope used in water skiing can be clamped between the jaws for towing purposes and quickly released therefrom when desired.

nited States Patent Bennie IL. Smith Primary Examiner-Trygve M. Blix1013 Court St., Muskogee, Okla. 74401 AttorneyDunlap, Laney, Hessin &Dougherty July 9, 1969 ABSTRACT: A clamp which includes a mountingbracket having a stationary jaw thereon positioned for clampingcooperation wit [72] Inventor [2l Appl. No.

[22] Filed [45] Patented June 8,1971

h a movable jaw pivotally supported on the mounting bracket. The movablejaw is also pivotally connected to one end of an actuating lever. A camlink has one end pivotally connected to the mounting bracket and asecond end connected to the actuating lever at a point between its ends.The several points of pivotal connection and the length of the cam linkare such that the point of pivotal connection of the cam link to theactuating lever passes through a line between the point of pivotalconnection of the lever to the movable jaw and the point of pivotalconnection of the link to the bracket at such time as the movable jaw ismoved from an open to a closed position by movement of the actuatinglever. The bracket is adapted for securement to the transom or gunwaleof a boat so that a towrope used in water skiing can be clamped betweenthe jaws for towing purposes and quickly released therefrom whendesired.

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m m N 1 WM H mm X mm N mm S ""W E mm R m2 T an F um B "P mm P WW2 S mmM% m m mm a m m E, a E PR ED m n-m u U35 E84 wa U99 Q U MF 1 ll l 0 U M5% m mu releasably a QUICK RELEASE CLAMP FOR SKI ROPE BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to manuallyoperated, quick release devices for clamping a flexible line subject toquick release of the line. More specifically, but not by way oflimitation, the present invention relates to quick release,boat-mountable clamps useful for firmly clamping one end of a flexiblemember, such as a rope, and for quickly and easily releasing suchflexible member upon manual actuation.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art several years. With the growth ofthe sport, the equipment utilized in its practice has been improved invarious respects.

Despite the improvement in equipment, the promulgation of certain rulesfor operation of boats used in towing water skiers, and certainprecautions which are taken for enhancing the safety of this aquaticsport, accidents still sometimes occur as a result of the skier becomingentangled in a towrope which is trailed from the towing boat at the timeafter the skier has fallen in the water and no longer grasps a handle atone end of the rope in his hands. This has resulted in broken bones andother injuries. The danger of this type of accident occurring isparticularly pronounced where a plurality of skiers are being towedbehind a single boat.

One recent proposal for avoiding this type of accident has been that ofusing a quick release clamp or coupling for attaching the leading end ofthe water ski towrope to the poweroperated boat used in towing. Thisquick release rope coupling is that which is described in U.S. Pat. No.3,205,545 issued Sept. 14, 1965. In the use of the ring rope coupling ofthis device, a water ski towrope is provided with a loop in its endadjacent the towing boat, and this loop is passed over a hook-shapedelement which cooperates with a pair of stationary lips to retain theloop over the hook. When a lever or arm is tripped, the hook element canpivot in a way which releases the loop at the end of the towrope, thuspreventing a skier who may have become entangled in the towrope frombeing dragged behind the boat.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION of THE PRESENT INVENTION The present invention rovidesa uick release clam for Tlieq'iiick release clamp of the invention in gbracket which is adapted for securement to the boatpreferably on thetransom of the boat, but also on the gunwale if this should bedesirable. The mounting bracket has secured thereto, or formedintegrally therewith, a stationary clamping jaw. Pivotally mounted onthe mounting bracket is a movable jaw which can be moved into a positionof cooperation with the stationary jaw to securely clamp an end or bightportion of a towrope therebetween. At a point spaced from its point ofpivotal connection to the mounting bracket, the movable jaw is alsopivotally connected to one end of an elongated actuating lever which isused for manually setting (clamping) or releasing the quick releaseclamp. A two-ended cam link has one of its ends pivotally connected tothe mounting bracket, and a second end connected to the actuating leverat a point between its ends.

The lever and cam action is what is sometimes referred to as anovercenter action in which the point of pivotal connection of the camlink to the lever arm moves through an arc during the pivotation of thelever arm from an open to a closed position, and in moving through sucharc, crosses from one side of a line connecting the point of pivotalconnection of the lever arm to the movable jaw to the point of pivotalconnection of the cam link to the mounting bracket. By reason of thisovercenter action, the movable jaw, when moved into contact with thestationary jaw by a clamping movement of the actuating lever, cannotthen'be released by a force acting between the jaws and tendingto openthem. Rather, the actuating lever must itself be pivoted in order toopen the jaws, and thus vide hiiiiekreieas clamp for a w ater skijtowrope w can mm"... clamp M my...

manner and additional object of the invention is to provide a verysimple, yet effective quick release clamp which can be operated eitherfrom the towing boat, or by a water skier, for .q, T It... ,insthssniofH P wil is secureamtigw the A further object of the invention is toprovide a clamp for detachably and releasably clamping one end of a ropefor towing a water skier by boat, which clamp has a minimum number ofmoving parts and is reliable in use and characterized in having a longand trouble-free service life.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quick release clampfor a water ski towrope which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a quick release clamp forsecuring one end of a water ski towrope to a boat, which clamp is ofrelatively light weight and can be quickly and easily secured to eitherthe transom or the gunwale of the boat by a single person.

A further object of the invention is to provide a quick release clampfor securing one end of a flexible member for the purpose of towingwater skiers, aqua plane riders or other waterborne persons.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description of the invention when consideredconjunctively with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of thequick release clamp for a water ski towrope as it appears in use fortowing a water skier behind a boat.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the towrope, quick release clamp and boat shownin FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTIONReferring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawing, shown therein is t a boat10 in use for towing a water skier. Secured to the transom II of theboat 10 is the quick release clamp of the present invention asdesignated generally by reference numeral 12. The clamp 12 is shownsecuring one end of a rope 14 which forms a bridle. The bridle 14 ispassed through a pulley which is secured to one end of a towrope 16 usedto tow a water skier 18 in conventional fashion.

The quick release clamp 12 of the invention is illustrated in greaterdetail in FIG. 3. As here shown, the clamp 12 includes a mountingbracket designated generally by reference numeral 20. In the illustratedembodiment of the invention, the mounting bracket 20 is preferablyformed as an integral member by casting or other suitable means, andincludes a pair of opposed, substantially parallel sidewalls 22 and 24(see FIG. 4), and a pair of opposed, substantially parallel end walls 26and 28. The mounting bracket 20 does not have a top wall and a bottomwall so that an open passageway is formed through the bracket betweenthe sidewalls 22 and 24. The bracket 20 is secured to the transom ll oftheboat 10 to one side of an outboard motor 32 by means of a pluralityof bolts 34 which are extended through holes 36 formed through the m emf end wall 26 and aligned with holes 38 formed through the transom. Thebolts 34 are secured tightly in position by means of suitable nuts 40threaded on the ends of the bolts on the inner side of the transom 11.It will be noted that the end wall 26 is of substantially greater lengththan the vertical widths of the sidewalls 22 and 24 (sidewall 24 havingdimensions equivalent to the wall 22 shown in FIG. 3). This permits theclamp 20 to be more easily mounted on the transom 11 of the boat 10, andto have greater supporting area and strength when so mounted, and alsofacilitates the extension of the towrope between certain jaws of theclamp as hereinafter explained.

Mounted within the space between the sidewalls 22 and 24 is the movingmechanism of the quick release clamp. This mechanism includes a movablejaw 42 which is pivotally secured between the sidewalls 22 and 24 at alocation adjacent the lower end of the end wall 28. The lower portion ofthe end wall 28 projects below the sidewalls 22 and 24 to form astationary jaw. The movable jaw 42 is pivotally secured in the mountingbracket 20 by means of a pivot pin 44 which is pressed through holes inthe sidewalls 22 and 24 which are aligned, and in registry, with amating hole formed in one comer of the movable jaw. The movable jaw 42is of generally triangular configuration in the illustrated embodimentof the invention, and has a clamping surface 46 which extends adjacentthe lower portion of the end wall 28 and, when the movable jaw 42 isfully closed, will contact the adjacent surface of the wall 28.Preferably, both the surface of the wall 28 which faces the movable jaw42, and the clamping surface 46 of the movable jaw 42 which faces theend wall 28 have elongated, parallel serrations or grooves formedtherein to aid in the clamping action afforded when the jaws cooperateto grip a flexible member, such as a water ski towrope. (Such a flexiblemember is illustrated in dashed lines in FIG. 3 and is designated byreference numeral 47).

Spaced from the pivot pin 44 toward the transom 11 in the jaw 42 areother pivot pin apertures formed through ears 50 located at a bifurcatedcorner portion of the jaw 42, which apertures receive a pivot pin 51used to interconnect the movablejaw with one end 52a of an elongatedactuating lever 52 which is extended between the ears. At its other end,the actuating lever 52 has an aperture 52b formed therethrough to permita release rope or cable 53 to be secured to this end of the actuatinglever. Spaced along the actuating lever 52 from the end portion 52a is alaterally projecting cam link lug 54. The cam link lug 54 is aperturedor bored to receive a pivot pin 56. The pivot pin 56 extends through apair of aligned apertures formed in a bifurcated end portion of a camlink 58 which has its bifurcated end portion thus pivotally connected tothe actuating lever 52. At its end opposite the end connected to theactuating lever 52 through the cam link lug 54, the cam link ispivotally connected to the bracket 20 by means of a pivot pin 60extending through apertures formed in the walls 22 and 24 of the bracketin alignment with an aperture formed through the cam link 58. Thus, thecam link 58 is able to pivot within the bracket 20 from the full-lineposition illustrated in FIG. 3 to the dashed-line position shown in thesame figure. The dashed line positions of the movable jaw 42, actuatinglever 52 and cam link 58 as illustrated in FIG. 3 depict the status ofthe clamping mechanism at a time when it has been moved to the releaseposition.

OPERATION in utilizing the quick release clamp 12 of the invention, theclamp is secured to a boat used for towing the water skier by boltingthe mounting bracket either directly to the boat as shown in theaccompanying drawings, or to an intermediate bracket or supportingmember which is itself secured to a bolt. Although it is usuallypreferable to bolt the mounting bracket 20 to the transom of the boatand to one side of an outboard motor, where one is utilized, themounting bracket may also be bolted to a gunwale of the boat if thisshould be desired. It

is possible to bolt the mounting bracket to the boat by extending thebolts through the holes 36 formed in the end wall 26 or by extending thebolts through holes 70 formed in the sidewall 22. The mounting bracket20 should, of course, be secured to the boat 10 in a location such thatthe actuating lever 52 projects upwardly and has its upper end portiondisposed in an accessible location where the actuating lever is free toundergo pivotation through an arc of substantial size.

in the usual method of connecting a water ski towrope to the towing boat10, a bridle 14 is provided which has opposite end portions secured tothe opposite sides of the transom 11 to thus form a loop or bightportion aft of the boat. A pulley is then permitted to ride along thisbight portion, and is connected through a suitable swivel to anelongated rope 16 having a handle at its opposite end for gripping bythe water skier. There will also usually be provided some type offlotation structure adjacent the point of connection of the elongatedrearwardly extending line to the bridle so that the ski towrope will notsink when it is released by the skier or from the boat.

in the illustrated use of the present invention, the quick release clamp12 is mounted at the starboard end of the transom 11 so that the clampis in a position to receive and engage one end of the bridle 14. Afterthe mounting bracket 20 has been bolted to the transom in this manner, arelease cable 53 is passed through the hole or aperture in the upper endof the actuating lever 52 and is extended forwardly in the boat 10 sothat it is within easy reach of the operator of the boat or otherpersons within the boat. The actuating lever 52 is pivoted toward thebow of the boat to pivot the movable jaw 42 from the full-line positionto the dashed-line position shown in FIG. 3. This provides an opening orspace between the movable jaw 42 and the stationary jaw formed by thelower end portion of the end wall 28. The free end of the bridie 14 canthen be passed between the jaws preparatory to clamping it in position.With the free end of the bridle 14 in place, the upper end portion ofthe actuating lever 52 is pivoted toward the stern of the boat 10. Thispivotation of the actuating lever 52 produces the overcenter action ofthe cam link 56 hereinbefore described and brings the movable jaw 42into juxtaposition to the lower end portion of the end wall 28. Thus,the free end of the bridle 14 is clamped securely in position and cannotbe released by tension applied to the bridle. Towing can now becommenced.

if, during the course of water skiing, the skier 18 loses his balanceor, for some reason, falls into the water, the usual practice is for theskier at that time to release the handle on the towrope 16 to disconnecthimself from the towing boat 10. On some occasions, however,particularly where there are multiple skiers, it is possible for theskier to become entangled in the towrope, and to be dragged through thewater at high speed by the boat 10. This is a particularly dangeroussituation, and can result in broken arms or legs or other bodily injury. To the end of preventing the occurrence of injuries of this type,the present invention is provided.

Let it be assumed that the skier 16 has fallen into the water and hasbecome entangled in the towrope 16. At this time, personnel in thetowing boat 10 who are observing the skier can quickly pull the releasecable 53. As the release cable 53 is pulled toward the forward end ofthe boat 10, the movable jaw 42 is pivoted from its closed position, asillustrated in full lines in FIG. 3, to its open position illustrated indashed lines in the same figure. This will release the free end of thebridle 14 permitting the bridle to run through the pulley by which it issecured to the towrope 16. The towrope 16 is thus quickly freed from thebridle to release the entangled skier 18 from the boat 10. Accidents andinjuries are thus avoided.

it should be pointed out that, as an alternative to operation of thepresent invention in the manner described, the release cable 53 may bepassed around a sheave or pulley secured forward of the quick releaseclamp 12 on the boat 10 and then extended back to the skier. In thisway, the skier may himself control the release of the free end of thebridle 14 and, if he becomes endangered by entanglement in the ski rope16, he

can release himself from the boat by pulling upon the release cable 53.

It should be pointed out that although a preferred embodiment of theinvention has been illustrated in the drawings and described herein,various modifications and changes in the described structure can beeffected without departure from the basic principles of the invention.All changes and innovations of this type are therefore deemed to becircumscribed by the spirit and scope of the invention.

What l claim is:

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a mounting bracket for mounting the clamp on a boat;

a stationary jaw secured to the mounting bracket;

a movable jaw pivotally mounted on the mounting bracket adjacent saidstationary jaw and cooperating with said stationary jaw for clamping aflexible, elongated member therebetween;

an elongated actuating lever pivotally connected at one of its ends tosaid movable jaw; and

a cam link having a first end pivotally connected to said actuatinglever intermediate the ends thereof, and having a second end pivotallyconnected to said mounting bracket, said cam link, actuating lever,movable jaw and mounting bracket being interconnected to cause the pointof pivotal connection of the cam link to the lever arm to move throughan are crossing a line between the point of pivotal connection of thelever arm to the movable jaw, and the point of pivotal connection of thecam link to the mounting bracket at such time as the actuating lever ispivoted.

2. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said mountingbracket and stationary jaw are integrally formed as a single unitaryelement.

3. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said movable jawis bifurcated and receives said one end of said elongated actuatinglever in said bifurcation.

4. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam link isbifurcated at said first end and receives said actuating lever in saidbifurcation.

5. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said mountingbracket comprises:

a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls; and a pair of substantiallyparallel end walls extending between the end edges of said parallelsidewalls, said movable jaw and cam link being pivotally secured betweensaid sidewalls.

6. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 2 wherein said mountingbracket is a unitary casting and includes;

a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls; and 18 a pair ofsubstantially parallel end walls extending between the end edges of saidparallel sidewalls, said movable jaw and cam link being pivotallysecured between said sidewalls.

7. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 6 and further characterizedas including a release cable secured to the end of said actuating leveropposite its end which is pivotally connected to said movable jaw.

8. A system for towin r s kiers comprising:

.ajimf gjb' oat having nsoi n a flhe stern thereof;

a mounting bracket including two substantially parallel sidewalls, andtwo substantially parallel end walls secured between the sidewalls, oneof said end walls being secured to the transom of said towing boat, andthe other of said end walls forming a stationary jaw;

a movable jaw pivotally mounted between said sidewalls and closableagainst said stationary jaw;

an elongated actuating lever having a first end portion projectingupwardly from said mounting bracket, and having a second end portionpivotally connected to said movable jaw at a point spaced from thepivotal axis of the movable jaw on the mounting bracket;

a cam link having one end portion pivotally connected between thesidewalls of said mounting bracket for pivotation about an axis spacedfrom the pivotal ax|s of said movable jaw, and having a second endportion pivotally connected to said actuating lever;

a bridle having one end secured to one side of the transom of said boatand the other end clamped between said stationary jaw and said movablejaw; and I ,atowggpe secured to a bight portion of said bridle,

9. A system for towing water skiers as defined in claim 8 wherein saidmounting bracket is an integrally formed,'onepiece casting.

10. A system for towing water skiers as defined in claim 8 wherein saidcam link is dimensioned and connected to said actuating lever so thatthe pivotal axis of said actuating lever on said cam link moves across aline between the pivotal axis of the actuating lever on said movable jawand the pivotal axis of said cam link on said mounting bracket when saidactuating arm is pivoted.

1. A quick release clamp for a water ski towrope comprising: a mountingbracket for mounting the clamp on a boat; a stationary jaw secured tothe mounting bracket; a movable jaw pivotally mounted on the mountingbracket adjacent said stationary jaw and cooperating with saidstationary jaw for clamping a flexible, elongated member therebetween;an elongated actuating lever pivotally connected at one of its ends tosaid movable jaw; and a cam link having a first end pivotally connectedto said actuating lever intermediate the ends thereof, and having asecond end pivotally connected to said mounting bracket, said cam link,actuating lever, movable jaw and mounting bracket being interconnectedto cause the point of pivotal connection of the cam link to the leverarm to move through an arc crossing a line between the point of pivotalconnection of the lever arm to the movable jaw, and the point of pivotalconnection of the cam link to the mounting bracket at such time as theactuating lever is pivoted.
 2. A quick release clamp as defined in claim1 wherein said mounting bracket and stationary jaw are integrally formedas a single unitary element.
 3. A quick release clamp as defined inclaim 1 wherein said movable jaw is bifurcated and receives said one endof said elongated actuating lever in said bifurcation.
 4. A quickRelease clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said cam link is bifurcatedat said first end and receives said actuating lever in said bifurcation.5. A quick release clamp as defined in claim 1 wherein said mountingbracket comprises: a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls; and apair of substantially parallel end walls extending between the end edgesof said parallel sidewalls, said movable jaw and cam link beingpivotally secured between said sidewalls.
 6. A quick release clamp asdefined in claim 2 wherein said mounting bracket is a unitary castingand includes; a pair of substantially parallel sidewalls; and 18 a pairof substantially parallel end walls extending between the end edges ofsaid parallel sidewalls, said movable jaw and cam link being pivotallysecured between said sidewalls.
 7. A quick release clamp as defined inclaim 6 and further characterized as including a release cable securedto the end of said actuating lever opposite its end which is pivotallyconnected to said movable jaw.
 8. A system for towing water skierscomprising: a towing boat having a transom at the stern thereof; amounting bracket including two substantially parallel sidewalls, and twosubstantially parallel end walls secured between the sidewalls, one ofsaid end walls being secured to the transom of said towing boat, and theother of said end walls forming a stationary jaw; a movable jawpivotally mounted between said sidewalls and closable against saidstationary jaw; an elongated actuating lever having a first end portionprojecting upwardly from said mounting bracket, and having a second endportion pivotally connected to said movable jaw at a point spaced fromthe pivotal axis of the movable jaw on the mounting bracket; a cam linkhaving one end portion pivotally connected between the sidewalls of saidmounting bracket for pivotation about an axis spaced from the pivotalaxis of said movable jaw, and having a second end portion pivotallyconnected to said actuating lever; a bridle having one end secured toone side of the transom of said boat and the other end clamped betweensaid stationary jaw and said movable jaw; and a towrope secured to abight portion of said bridle.
 9. A system for towing water skiers asdefined in claim 8 wherein said mounting bracket is an integrallyformed, one-piece casting.
 10. A system for towing water skiers asdefined in claim 8 wherein said cam link is dimensioned and connected tosaid actuating lever so that the pivotal axis of said actuating lever onsaid cam link moves across a line between the pivotal axis of theactuating lever on said movable jaw and the pivotal axis of said camlink on said mounting bracket when said actuating arm is pivoted.